Indo-US trade in dual use technology at $90 mn

US Undersecretary of Commerce Ken Juster today said there had been a dramatic rise in the volume of trade in high-technology areas following Indo-US talks on civilian use of space technology that was the subject of the Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP).

He said after sanctions were lifted in 2001, the value of licensed dual-use trade between India and the US went up to $27 million for the fiscal year 2002. In the fiscal year 2004 ending on September 30 this year, the volume of trade had gone up to $90 million.

A total number of 912 licences were granted in 2004. While some applications were rejected, the approval rate had gone up from 85 per cent last year to 90 per cent this year, he said.

Juster said the US would post a commerce department official here later this month to help coordinate high-technology trade between the two countries.

"The official will help US companies understand the opportunities in the high-technology sector in India and also help Indian companies understand US export control systems and requirements, so that US technologies that are transferred are used in the manner they are licensed for," he said.

As it was done the world over, Juster said "periodic end use checks on a spot basis" would be carried out to ensure that technology and hardware goes where it should be used for.

Juster attended a series of meetings with Indian officials, including National Security Advisor JN Dixit and Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran today.

He will address the National Association of Software and Service Companies and the Information Technology Centre of America tomorrow, and also visit Salt Lake City in Kolkata.

Expressing satisfaction at the successful conclusion of the first phase of the NSSP he said in 80 per cent of the cases licences would no longer be required by entities like the Indian Space Research Organisation for technology from the US and items that were not part of the list specified by the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG).

High-technology trade

• A total of 912 licences were granted in 2004. While some applications were rejected, the approval rate had gone up from 85 per cent last year to 90 per cent this year
• A US commerce department official will be posted in India to coordinate high-technology trade between the two countries
• Periodic end use checks would be carried out to ensure that technology and hardware goes where it should be used for